Matthew Murrell hits 6 from distance, scores 26 points to help Ole Miss beat Missouri 79-76

Updated: Feb 18, 2024, 12:23 pm

OXFORD, Miss. -- — Matthew Murrell made six 3-pointers and finished with 26 points, and Mississippi rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat Missouri 79-76 on Saturday night.

Sean East II made two free throws to pull Missouri to 75-72 with 11 seconds left. Missouri closed within one point twice in the final seconds, but TJ Caldwell and Murrell each answered with a pair of free throws.

Ole Miss used a 25-6 run to take a 69-60 lead with five minutes left. Allen Flanigan scored eight points, including a second-chance dunk, and Murrell made two from long range during the stretch.

Flanigan and Jaylen Murray added 16 points apiece for Ole Miss (20-6, 7-6 SEC), which ended a three-game losing streak. Murray made four 3-pointers and Flanigan grabbed 10 rebounds to go with four assists. Jaemyn Brakefield chipped in with 14 points and five assists.

East was 6 of 9 from the floor and made all 12 of his free throws to finish with 25 points for Missouri (8-17, 0-12). Tamar Bates added 12 points, and Jordan Butler and Aidan Shaw scored 10 apiece.

Both teams shot better than 50% in the second half. Ole Miss was 12 of 21 from the floor and made 22 of 30 free throws. Missouri was 11-of-22 shooting and hit 18 of 19 from the line.

Missouri will look to end a 12-game losing streak in a home game against eighth-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday.

Ole Miss hosts Mississippi State on Wednesday.

——- Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ------ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball